CD Reviews

Phenomenal

Adam Trunoske | Mount Clemens, MI United States | 02/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Listen to this. Like, I just dont know how else to put it. Every album put out by US Maple is just absolutely phenomenal. I first heard them 2 years ago (Acre Thrills) and I wasnt all about it. Its a grower band, for people who want a challenge for their ears, and also for arrogant people, one or the other, or both. I recommend all of their albums: Long Hair In Three Stages (produced by legendary Jim O' Rourke), obviously Sang Phat Editor, Talker, Acre Thrills, and Purple on Time.

If youve never heard US Maple, Als vocals sound like hes having an asthma attack, the guitars and drums will carry a consistent beat for moments, giving you the idea that the songs will be consistent, but then the drums just break down and get completely random, the guitars are insane (one is detuned severely and sounds like a bass, they have no bass player, just 2 guitarists), the tracks stop and go, bursting and collapsing with complete certainty. These tracks are composed amazingly well. You may not like them at first, they are a challenging band, but well worth giving a try!

Be sure to listen to Alan Johnsons other band, Shorty. Same vocals, more composed, just as awesome.

And! If youre really into US Maple, be on the lookout for Long Hair In Three stages on vinyl. The album covers were hand made out of aluminum sheet metal by the band, only 1000 made, and they fetch absurd prices (ive seen one sell for $203)."

Guitarshardthudzipbang w/ ultra eww vox!

Adam Trunoske | 02/22/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this record only becomes terrifyingly incredible once you realize that they do in fact know EXACTLY what they're doing; they reportedly replicate this stuff live too... *shiver*"

Ugly, Chaotic, Brilliant

Justin Baumgartner | 07/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To say that U.S. Maple grows on you is a devastating understatement. It's almost certain that you will NOT like them the first time you hear them. I didn't. Even listening to "out there" stuff like Trout Mask Replica and Twin Infinitives did nothing to prepare me for the music on this CD. But this album is incredibly addictive. I always found myself going back and listening to it again and again, hearing new exciting things I never heard before. Yes U.S. Maple "rocks", but not in any conventional sense. What this band does to conventional rock music is not unlike decontructing a puzzle and putting the pieces back together in a completely different way. There has been no band like this before or since. I can honestly say that this is one of my personal favorites. This is recommended if you are looking for something completely different in indie rock land. But just don't listen to it once."

This is the one where they take it all apart

M. P. Lockwood | Brooklyn, NYC | 01/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"How many bands invent their whole own musical language? I am not just talking about a "style," but a completely new way of playing their instruments together? I can only think of U.S. Maple.

Imagine you went back in time and gave guitars and drums to cavemen, with no instructions, then visited them again in 20 years to see what they were playing. Maybe that would be a way of describing Beefheart's "Trout Mask Replica." But if you traveled to another universe and performed the same experiment with the amorphous color-beings that live there, that's how U.S.Maple's "Sang Phat Editor" sounds.

Their first record "Long Hair" melts math rock, and their later records add some identifiable atmosphere and melodies, but this record can't be connected to anything. It is just beamed in from Dimension X. This is the first U.S.Maple I heard and it probably took 10 listens before I even realized that these songs have verses and choruses (of a sort)!

And when they play these songs live, even though you may see them intentionally trying to disrupt each other's playing or cursing to themselves as though the rest of the band is screwing things up (which adds to everyone's confusion), they NAIL these songs with frightening accuracy. It gives me genuine chills to witness. If you really need a Rosetta Stone, try listening to their cover of Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay" on "Purple on Time.""

Fractal rock

garthboyst | Washington, DC United States | 04/18/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"simply one of the best from the greatly over-rated 90's chicago scene. there no albiniesque whining on this one (someone needs to kick that guy in the pants). pure and beautiful, amazing out of control stuttering rythms, too complex even to be math rock. BUT STILL organic and heart stopping. one can only wonder about the creative origins of this one."